Monday, January 12, 2009

In yesterday's blogging post, I mentioned that the Bible was my favorite book. I think I'd like to talk about that for a few minutes.

In Hebrews 4: 12, it says: "For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are." (NLT)

I do not believe that very many of we Christians fully grasp the absolutely power and authority of the Word. And then add the words of Isaiah 55:11, where God proclaims that His Word "will not return to Him void." He then says: "It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it." (NLT)

Wow! As a pastor, I many times wonder if any one is listening as the Word is being proclaimed. You think about the parable of the sower, and how the seed of the Word fell on four types of ground - one of which it just fell by the wayside and was trampled on and ignored. But God, Himself, has declared that His Word will not return void.

That leads me to wonder if there are times God's Word doesn't return to Him, or, could it be that the trampled seed by the wayside is not wasted seed in the eyes of God? I don't really know. I do believe that even if a person seems to ignore the Word they have heard, that necessarily doesn't mean they lose the seed. I think sometimes the Holy Spirit has to let the seed "hibernate" awhile before it speaks the message of God to the heart.

Definitely something to think about as I'm headed over to the couch to do today's Bible study. I know the other night I was really tired as I was doing it and I knew I was skimming the reading, not really thinking about the details (Solomon building the temple). Also I think it's so good to pray sincerely before studying His word, yet I don't always think to do that! I do believe if we make the effort he'll meet us where we are, now I'll stop talking about what I don't really know and go study His word..